(Nashville, Tennessee) A child sits hungrily on a grimy floor. A solitary man with a silver Porsche. I’m a single mom working the second shift. A teenage girl bears a scar on her wrist.
Some songs really hit home. Many don’t. From the moment when the kingdom comes is the latter. It’s easy to see this when you hear the opening lines.
Blythe, well-known in the industry, has topped the charts with hits like I Drive Your Truck, It’s Hard to Love, I Don’t Dance, I Don’t Ruin Memories, and Drinking Class. But this new song takes a different direction, illustrating an artist who has come back to his spiritual roots and has grown more aware of human struggles and their connections in our world.
Every song shares a story, and often the tale of how a song is created and finally shared is a narrative of its own. when the kingdom comes is no different. We spoke with Blythe and his wife, Sarah, who co-wrote the song, about its journey from idea to execution, which began with the title.
Around a year and a half ago, a close friend and collaborator, multi-platinum songwriter John Stone, excitedly called Brices late one night about the song’s title. When Lee and Sarah heard when the kingdom comes, they both felt an urge to run with it. But, you know, life doesn’t always cooperate, and sometimes timing isn’t right. Fast forward a year and a half later,
After finishing dinner, Lee found himself struck with the kind of inspiration that had helped him pen number one hits. “I felt that spark, something like I’ve experienced before,” he shared, referring to songs like I Don’t Dance and One of Them Girls. “I knew I had to write this song.”
This song, when the kingdom comes, captures the essence of life. Lee, along with another frequent collaborator, Sarah and award-winning songwriters like Billy Montana, contributed significantly to its creation.
Once they began working together, the creativity just emerged, with Sarah expressing it felt as if the song was destined to be created. Lee had been replaying the chorus in his head for what felt like over a year, with melodies and images dancing in his mind. Sarah mentioned that not only was there a weight from child trafficking on her heart, but she was also dealing with her sister’s struggles, which influenced the songwriting process. “I envision hungry children,” she reflected.
Lee added poignant lines about a “hungry child on a dirty floor,” a “lonely man with a silver Porsche,” and a “single mother working late.” As he thought of his wife’s sister, he concluded with a line about “a teenage girl with a scar on her wrist.” It illustrates the songwriting experience beautifully.
Montana shared, “I felt like that night was one of those destined moments. We were on the porch under the stars, and it just seemed like everything was unfolding as it should. It gave me chills—a feeling that this song’s message was grander than any of us.”
Songwriter Billy Montana Provided by Redlight Management/Chase Lauer
And when you listen to when the kingdom comes, you recognize that it’s a fitting description. Lee explained that the song initially represented “a major destination moment… a time when everything would be alright.” That sentiment resonates strongly in the chorus lyrics.
when the kingdom comes
when you see your son
rolling back the sky
There’s nothing left
There’s nothing left but love
when the kingdom comes
Yet, as he spent time with this piece, Lee started to view it differently. “Every day here can be heaven on earth. The kingdom might be arriving for you tomorrow… Every morning is what Jesus intended for us,” he reflected.
When asked what he hopes listeners take from the song, he summarized it in one word. Lee… Hope. Sarah echoed a biblical message: “Do not be anxious; do not be afraid.”
Lee and Sarah Brice
Some songs give you chills. Most don’t. But when the kingdom comes is certainly one of those. The song resonates not just because of the skillful and heartfelt writing but also due to Lee’s unique vocal expressions. He brings a mix of strength and authenticity that makes you connect with the song’s narrative about the struggles we all face. It reassures us that perhaps everything will be alright.
And all of this began with the title John Stone.
when the kingdom comes is now available from Lee Brice’s upcoming album Sunriser, set to launch this fall.
*** Sarah’s half-sister later embraced faith and featured in music videos.
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When the Kingdom Comes (Lyrics) – Bryce, Bryce, Montana, Stone
a hungry child
on the dirty floor
lonely man
in his silver Porsche
single mother
on her second shift
teenage girl
with scars on her wrists;
when the kingdom comes
When we all know why
when you see your son
rolling back the sky
There’s nothing left
There’s nothing left but love
when the kingdom comes
every soul shattered
all skin tones
every broken heart
Are you going to hit me again?
I’m gonna find their way
you will feel the cost
some iron nails
and a wooden cross
when the kingdom comes
When we all know why
when you see your son
rolling back the sky
There’s nothing left
There’s nothing left but love
when the kingdom comes
when the first becomes the last
and the last is the first
There will be no hunger
you won’t be thirsty
when the kingdom comes
When we all know why
when you see your son
rolling back the sky
There’s nothing left
There’s nothing left but love
when the kingdom comes
We all know why
I’m going to see my son
rollin’ back the sky
There’s nothing left
There’s nothing left but love
when the kingdom comes
when the kingdom comes
when the kingdom comes
